Monday, February 13, 2012

Go Kart Chassis Tuning for Dirt Oval Racing

This is a basic guide on some of the changes you can make at the track to try and dial in your chassis. All of these changes should be used only after you have your basic set-up which includes setting toe end, stagger, camber and weight percentages. These basic set-up adjustments should be done at home while the week. Your chassis builder should furnish you with a set-up starting point. In time this starting point may change agreeing to what works best for your driving style, different tracks and different track conditions.

If Loose on Entry

Tires Air Pressure

1.Reduce air in Rr

Go Kart Chassis Tuning for Dirt Oval Racing

2.Change to a smaller Lf

3.Change to a harder Rf

4.Decrease Lf camber

5.Add cross weight

6.Decrease front weight

7.Decrease rear stagger

If Loose on Exit

1.Increase Rf camber

2.Change to a softer tire on Lr

3. Move Lr in

4. Growth cross weight

5.Decrease rear stagger

If Chassis Pushes on Entry

1.Change to a softer Rf tire

2. change to a larger Lf

3. Growth rear stagger

4. Lower Rf airpressure

5. Growth Lf camber

6.Move Lr out

If Chassis Pushes on Exit

1. Decrease Rf camber

2. Sacrifice cross weight

3. Move Lr out

4. change to a harder tire on Lr

5. Growth rear stagger

6. Sacrifice front stagger

7. Growth front weight

If Chassis is Binding

1. Growth front and rear stagger

2. change to harder tires

3. Raise airpressure

4. Decrease cross weight

5. Growth rear weight

6. Move Rr out

4 Wheel Drift

1. Lower airpressures

2. Move Rr in

3. change to softer tires

4. Decrease left weight

5. Raise Vcg (raise seat)

There are many handy tools and gauges made to help racers with set-up of their racing go kart chassis. Most of these, such as Longacre Caster/Camber Gauges, Longacre Computerscales, Accutoe Pro Laser Toe Gauge, Longacre Air Gauges, Longacre Durometer and Tire Stagger tape measures are ready at most kart shops, along with my own: http://smokinjoeracing.com

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